[OutsiderFan]

These odds reflect scheduling realities that negatively impact Stanford.

Stanford has a 12 game schedule that includes 10 BCS AQ games, a non-AQ opponent that was ranked in the top 25 last year, and a road game all the way across the country against Army.  Worse, the toughest games are at the end of the season, making it unlikely that Stanford will recover from a late loss.  That is not a schedule friendly for a BCS run.

Many in the SEC will have only 8 BCS AQ games and 4 other home games against very weak FBS or FCS teams.  And for those teams they will get some of the weakest SEC teams and an FCS team in November.  That is a schedule friendly for a BCS run.

This makes some sense.  Stanford can probably afford one loss and still make the BCS title game given the gauntlet of a schedule they face.  But that loss probably can't be against Oregon because the Pac-12 doesn't have the cachet to have a team in the BCS title game that doesn't win its conference.  Losing to Oregon likely counts as two losses; an L in the loss column, and head-to-head tiebreaker loss as well.

[OutsiderFan]

These odds reflect scheduling realities that negatively impact Stanford.

Stanford has a 12 game schedule that includes 10 BCS AQ games, a non-AQ opponent that was ranked in the top 25 last year, and a road game all the way across the country against Army.  Worse, the toughest games are at the end of the season, making it unlikely that Stanford will recover from a late loss.  That is not a schedule friendly for a BCS run.

Many in the SEC will have only 8 BCS AQ games and 4 other home games against very weak FBS or FCS teams.  And for those teams they will get some of the weakest SEC teams and an FCS team in November.  That is a schedule friendly for a BCS run.

This makes some sense.  Stanford can probably afford one loss and still make the BCS title game given the gauntlet of a schedule they face.  But that loss probably can't be against Oregon because the Pac-12 doesn't have the cachet to have a team in the BCS title game that doesn't win its conference.  Losing to Oregon likely counts as two losses; an L in the loss column, and head-to-head tiebreaker loss as well.